this is my life...on tv
Has our memory perspective been altered by watching television? Is reality TV making humans even more egocentric? Questions I have, to be explored later.
I finally watched the end of the movie, "Life in a Day". It wasn't as powerful as I thought it would be, in fact I thought the final scene was cheap and whingy. But there were a few moments that stood out for me, most of them depicting life in other cultures. The family in the jungle who were catching lizards and building a shelter has imprinted heavily on my thoughts. I keep picturing the older woman who at the last scene is squatting in the shelter, her face looks neither happy nor unhappy and she is staring off in the distance. How old was she? What was she thinking about? Would I be happier if all I knew was the struggle to "live"? I've thought a lot about the danger of choice recently; it is clear that humans get up to no-good whenever they have a surplus of time and resources.
I was watching "The Bachelor" on Monday night (gasp, I know). It was vapid and alluring all at the same time, and I kept thinking, "this is the end of humanity" - by that I mean, the end of what is good about humans. The values and ethics purported by that show are conflicting. On the one hand, there is a strong sense of ownership over feelings and desires; contestants (is that even what you would call them?) are encouraged to be honest and forthcoming with their partners and, quite frankly, it is startling and refreshing to hear the way they communicate. Open and honest with no fear of confrontation...but then again, isn't that how we all behave when someone is watching? But, on the other hand, there is brazenness that reeks of stupidity, the attitudes of the women are pre-feminist and the whole process glorifies human objectification. The money it must take to make that show look good could, no doubt, feed a small country for a year. It is a silly, silly show.
For the most part, I don't watch a lot of TV these days. We made the decision to not expose the kids to television and have stuck to that religiously, so the television is never on. What a difference it has made! Overall I find that TV programs (the news is the worst) move very slowly, yet impart very little information or plot. This is something that I didn't notice when I used to watch a lot of TV. I wonder how many people realise that their morning commute road-rage has more to do with the 4 hours they wasted on "slow-thoughts" watching television the night before than with the poor schmuck who can't merge any faster than 50km. We are all being victimized by time-release information and entertainment.
Today is a snow-day. Have already called in to excuse the kids from school and music class. They are outside trying to play in the heavy, wet snow...later we'll go the library and coffee shop and get hot chocolates and treats. This is not at all how I pictured myself at this age, but I love it. Am feeling so grateful and happy and must remember to live in the moment these days.
I finally watched the end of the movie, "Life in a Day". It wasn't as powerful as I thought it would be, in fact I thought the final scene was cheap and whingy. But there were a few moments that stood out for me, most of them depicting life in other cultures. The family in the jungle who were catching lizards and building a shelter has imprinted heavily on my thoughts. I keep picturing the older woman who at the last scene is squatting in the shelter, her face looks neither happy nor unhappy and she is staring off in the distance. How old was she? What was she thinking about? Would I be happier if all I knew was the struggle to "live"? I've thought a lot about the danger of choice recently; it is clear that humans get up to no-good whenever they have a surplus of time and resources.
I was watching "The Bachelor" on Monday night (gasp, I know). It was vapid and alluring all at the same time, and I kept thinking, "this is the end of humanity" - by that I mean, the end of what is good about humans. The values and ethics purported by that show are conflicting. On the one hand, there is a strong sense of ownership over feelings and desires; contestants (is that even what you would call them?) are encouraged to be honest and forthcoming with their partners and, quite frankly, it is startling and refreshing to hear the way they communicate. Open and honest with no fear of confrontation...but then again, isn't that how we all behave when someone is watching? But, on the other hand, there is brazenness that reeks of stupidity, the attitudes of the women are pre-feminist and the whole process glorifies human objectification. The money it must take to make that show look good could, no doubt, feed a small country for a year. It is a silly, silly show.
For the most part, I don't watch a lot of TV these days. We made the decision to not expose the kids to television and have stuck to that religiously, so the television is never on. What a difference it has made! Overall I find that TV programs (the news is the worst) move very slowly, yet impart very little information or plot. This is something that I didn't notice when I used to watch a lot of TV. I wonder how many people realise that their morning commute road-rage has more to do with the 4 hours they wasted on "slow-thoughts" watching television the night before than with the poor schmuck who can't merge any faster than 50km. We are all being victimized by time-release information and entertainment.
Today is a snow-day. Have already called in to excuse the kids from school and music class. They are outside trying to play in the heavy, wet snow...later we'll go the library and coffee shop and get hot chocolates and treats. This is not at all how I pictured myself at this age, but I love it. Am feeling so grateful and happy and must remember to live in the moment these days.
posted by wattlebla at 10:06
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